Assessment of Planetary Protection and Contamination Control Technologies for Future Planetary Science Missions January 24, 2011 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Assessment of Planetary Protection Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California and Contamination Control Technologies for Future Planetary Science Missions Strategic Missions and Advanced Concepts Office Jet Propulsion Laboratory for Planetary Science Division Space Mission Directorate NASA Work Performed under the Planetary Science Program Support Task January 24, 2012 JPL D-72356 Andrea Belz, Consultant, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Lead Author Pat Beauchamp, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Chair Advisory Committee NASA Headquarters NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Catharine Conley Mark Anderson Perry Stabekis Todd Bayer Jack Barengoltz Brian Blakkolb Karen Buxbaum NASA Ames Research Center James Cutts Scott Sandford Patricia Hansen Ying Lin NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Richard Mattingly Jason Dworkin Laura Newlin Therese Errigo Robert Pappalardo Stephanie Getty Andy Spry Daniel Glavin Randii Wessen Wayne Zimmerman NASA Johnson Space Center Robert Gershman Michael Zolensky John Hopkins University / Applied Physics Laboratory Thomas Magner Strategic Missions and Advanced Concepts Office JPL D-72356 Foreword Planetary protection and organic contamination control, like many technologically rich areas, continually progress. This assessment describes advances in both areas since the first report was generated in 2005, when the primary emphasis was on technologies for in situ missions to Mars. As a result of the 2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey Report, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013–2022, the focus is now on a sequence of Mars sample return missions. Thus, in this report, we examine our experiences in returning solar wind and cometary samples, which teach us how to better prepare for returning samples from Mars. It has become clear that linking planetary protection and contamination control requirements and processes together early in the mission development and spacecraft design is key to keeping mission costs in check and returning high-quality samples that are free from biological and organic contaminants. Scientific integrity is a priority. In addition to Mars, we now have the exciting possibility of a potential mission to the outer planets, most likely Europa. Discussions and debate have occurred in the last few years to firm up the planetary protection requirements for such a mission. At the time of this report’s publication, there are three options for the Europa mission ranging from multiple fly-bys, to an orbiter or a lander. The planetary protection and contamination control requirements will, of course, depend heavily on the chosen mission. This report provides the status of planetary protection and contamination control technologies as they apply to potential missions and provides recommendations to improve our capabilities as we further explore our solar system. Patricia M. Beauchamp Strategic Missions and Advanced Concepts Office Solar System Exploration Directorate January 24, 2012 Assessment of Planetary Protection and Contamination Control Technologies for Future Planetary Science Missions i Strategic Missions and Advanced Concepts Office JPL D-72356 Acknowledgments This work was conducted as part of the Planetary Program Support task that JPL carries out for NASA’s Planetary Science Division. The research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Gordon Johnston is the NASA program executive responsible for this work funded under the Technology sub-task. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement by the United States Government or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Special thanks to Christina Pekarek for support during preparation of this report and to Richard Barkus for development of the cover. ©2012. All rights reserved. Other Reports in This Series Power Technology • Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems Report, Report No. JPL D-20757 6/01, March 2001. • Solar Cell and Array Technology for Future Space Missions, Report No. JPL D–24454, Rev. A, December 2003. • Energy Storage Technology for Future Space Science Missions, Report No. JPL D-30268, Rev. A, November 2004. Planetary Protection Technology • Planetary Protection and Contamination Control Technologies for Future Space Science Missions, Report No. JPL D-31974, June 2005. Extreme Environments Technology • Extreme Environment Technologies for Future Space Science Missions, Report No. JPL D- 32832, September 2007. In Preparation • Guidance and Control Technology Assessment for Future Space Missions • Navigation and Mission Design Technology Assessment for Future Space Missions Assessment of Planetary Protection and Contamination Control Technologies for Future Planetary Science Missions ii Strategic Missions and Advanced Concepts Office JPL D-72356 Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 1 Study Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Requirements ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Planetary Protection and Regulatory Agencies ............................................................................... 5 1.2.2 Requirements for Contamination Control ........................................................................................ 7 1.2.3 Exploration Targets ......................................................................................................................... 7 2 Planned and Potential Future Mission Concepts .................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Mars Exploration .......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Other Solar System Exploration ................................................................................................................. 11 3 Assessment of Technology Progress ................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Contaminant Reduction and Assessment .................................................................................................. 13 3.1.1 Microbial Reduction Methodologies ............................................................................................... 14 3.1.2 Bio-burden Detection and Assessment ......................................................................................... 18 3.1.3 Bio-diversity Studies ...................................................................................................................... 20 3.1.4 Organic Contamination Control and Assessment .......................................................................... 22 3.1.5 Assured Containment Samples Returned from Mars .................................................................... 23 3.2 Recontamination Prevention ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Aseptic or Ultra-Clean Assembly ................................................................................................... 24 3.2.2 Modeling Contaminant Transport .................................................................................................. 24 3.2.3 Isolation Technologies ................................................................................................................... 26 3.3 Organizational Needs ................................................................................................................................ 28 3.3.1 Mars Sample Return Facility ......................................................................................................... 28 3.3.2 Curation ......................................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.3 Education and Training and Transfer of Knowledge ..................................................................... 29 4 Key Findings and Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 29 4.1 Systems Engineering ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 Technology Development .......................................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Education and Training .............................................................................................................................